Bono’s backfired joke

Bono worries people don’t find him funny, as they didn’t see the humour in him suggesting Amy Schumer and Sacha Baron Cohen should fight ISIS.

The U2 frontman spoke during a Senate subcommittee hearing in April (16), during which he made a bold suggestion that laughter could be used as a weapon against the extremist group. However the hilarity appeared to be missed, leaving Bono wishing he had a catchphrase he could use to help him out in such scenarios.

“In any situation, whether being harangued, bored, seduced, abused or adored, it would be helpful,” he sighed to Q magazine, adding fellow rocker Jarvis Cocker gives him envy by using the phrase, “It’s a lot to take in, really”.

“A phrase that works on every occasion is an invaluable exit strategy. I need one… I just did a one-and-a-half-hour briefing with the United States Senate on the refugee crisis. Off-script, in the last five minutes, I made one joke about sending Amy Schumer, Sacha Baron Cohen and Chris Rock in to fight ISIS and that’s all that ended up on the news. I guess people don’t want me to be funny…”

Bono was talking to Q about the pearls of wisdom he has picked up over the years as part of the publication’s birthday issue. Another titbit from the Irish star was to “believe in the blank page” rather than fear it.

“Everybody has one,” he reasoned. “Cos everybody is one. Fill it up. Tear it up. Let it tear you up. A blank page threatens the author with emptiness, but that’s OK. Believe in it and believe you can make your mark on it. It’s your future. Your only hope. It’s the place you need to be. Move in. Have faith in the blank page.”